The Book of II Samuel
Chapter 5
David Anointed King Over Israel
5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
5:2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
The Shepherd King
The people of Israel recognized their blood relation to David. The terms “Leddest out and broughtest in” and “feed my people” are pastoral terms. David was the shepherd of God’s people. God has chosen a shepherd to lead his people.
5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. KJV
David Captures Jerusalem - 2 Sam 5:6-9
5:6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
The Jebusites are pagan people who occupy Jerusalem. At this point, Jerusalem is not a Hebrew city. The Jebusites are confident in their stronghold and taunt David saying that even the weakest members of their society could ward him off.
5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
5:8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter <water shaft>, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
1 Chron 11:6
6 And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. KJV
5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. KJV
Millo: a type of fortification like a rampart that may have been 2 walls filled in with solid earth between which could also be referred to as supporting terraces. David lived in the fortress and built it up.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is located fourteen miles W of the Dead Sea, thirty-three miles E of the Mediterranean. Bethlehem lies about five miles to the SE. The city is situated on an uneven rocky plateau at an elevation of 2,550 feet. It is 3,800 feet above the level of the Dead Sea. Being high in elevation and fanned by the afternoon breeze from the Mediterranean, Jerusalem has a mean annual temperature of 63 degrees. However, the temperature can mount to 100 degrees in summer and drops to 25 degrees in the winter. Snow occasionally falls, sometimes to a depth of one foot, but does not last long.
David’s Wisdom In Choosing Jerusalem
Jerusalem was a strategic political choice for David’s capital. First it was on neutral ground held by the Jebusites. It did not belong to Judah or Israel. Second, it is near the border between Judah and Israel, so neither will be offended.
David did not do anything while Saul lived or after his death to create animosity with Saul’s followers. So they were able to come over to him without any bad feelings. Samuel had anointed David to be king many years before, but David didn’t do anything to attempt to take the kingdom by force. Instead, David had waited patiently on the Lord. He trusted in the Lord to bring about what he promised that he was going to do in his own time.
2 Sam 5:10-12
5:10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
5:11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
5:12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. KJV
Verse 12 is a key verse in the chapter. David realized that the Lord had made him king. We need to recognize that God is working in our lives. God exalted his kingdom for his people’s sake. Often God is blessing us because he wants us to be a blessing to someone else.
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